Selmasongs: Music from the Motion Picture Soundtrack Dancer in the Dark
Encyclopedia
Selmasongs was released in September 2000 by Icelandic
singer, musician and actress Björk
as a soundtrack
to the film Dancer in the Dark
, in which she also starred as the main character, Selma.
The album features classical arrangements, as well as melodies and beats composed of sounds from mundane objects, such as factory machines and trains.
Notably, some of the song lyrics on the album are substantially different from the songs in the film, the most pronounced example being "Scatterheart". The album omits the vocals of actors David Morse
, Cara Seymour
and Edward Ross
. Some lyrics were rewritten, perhaps to prevent spoiling crucial plot details, since the soundtrack was released in stores before the movie opened in theaters, or to make the record flow better as a stand-alone album. In particular, on the song "I've Seen It All", Thom Yorke
performs the words sung by Peter Stormare
in the film. In addition, the track "My Favourite Things" does not appear on the album at all.
The track "I've Seen It All" was nominated for an Academy Award
for Best Original Song. For the track, Björk made a "webeo" with director Floria Sigismondi
that premiered on September 1, 2000 on MTV.com. It used a shorter version of the song that the singer recorded specifically for the webeo.
The album was re-released in 2006 as a DualDisc
including new DTS
24/96 5.1-channel surround sound mixes. The DualDisc also formed part of the ( surrounded): box set.
In the film, the songs appear in the following order:
Icelanders
Icelanders are a Scandinavian ethnic group and a nation, native to Iceland.On 17 June 1944, when an Icelandic republic was founded the Icelanders became independent from the Danish monarchy. The language spoken is Icelandic, a North Germanic language, and Lutheranism is the predominant religion...
singer, musician and actress Björk
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir , known as Björk , is an Icelandic singer-songwriter. Her eclectic musical style has achieved popular acknowledgement and popularity within many musical genres, such as rock, jazz, electronic dance music, classical and folk...
as a soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the film Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark
Dancer in the Dark is a 2000 Danish musical drama film directed by Lars von Trier and starring Icelandic singer Björk, Catherine Deneuve, David Morse, Cara Seymour, Peter Stormare, Siobhan Fallon Hogan, and Joel Grey...
, in which she also starred as the main character, Selma.
The album features classical arrangements, as well as melodies and beats composed of sounds from mundane objects, such as factory machines and trains.
Notably, some of the song lyrics on the album are substantially different from the songs in the film, the most pronounced example being "Scatterheart". The album omits the vocals of actors David Morse
David Morse (actor)
David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
, Cara Seymour
Cara Seymour
Cara Seymour is an English actress of stage and screen. She has appeared in many ensemble casts for acclaimed films such as American Psycho, Adaptation., Gangs of New York, Hotel Rwanda, and The Savages....
and Edward Ross
Edward Ross
Edward Ross may refer to:*Edward A. Ross , American sociologist and a major figure of early criminology*Edward Denison Ross , English Orientalist and linguist*Edward Ross *Edward Ross...
. Some lyrics were rewritten, perhaps to prevent spoiling crucial plot details, since the soundtrack was released in stores before the movie opened in theaters, or to make the record flow better as a stand-alone album. In particular, on the song "I've Seen It All", Thom Yorke
Thom Yorke
Thomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
performs the words sung by Peter Stormare
Peter Stormare
is a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
in the film. In addition, the track "My Favourite Things" does not appear on the album at all.
The track "I've Seen It All" was nominated for an Academy Award
Academy Awards
An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
for Best Original Song. For the track, Björk made a "webeo" with director Floria Sigismondi
Floria Sigismondi
Floria Sigismondi is an Italian, naturalised Canadian, photographer and director.Apart from her art exhibitions, she is best known for writing and directing The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning...
that premiered on September 1, 2000 on MTV.com. It used a shorter version of the song that the singer recorded specifically for the webeo.
The album was re-released in 2006 as a DualDisc
DualDisc
DualDisc was a type of double-sided optical disc product developed by a group of record companies including EMI Music, Universal Music Group, Sony/BMG Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and 5.1 Entertainment Group and later under the aegis of the Recording Industry Association of America...
including new DTS
Digital Theater System
DTS is a series of multichannel audio technologies owned by DTS, Inc. , an American company specializing in digital surround sound formats used for both commercial/theatrical and consumer grade applications...
24/96 5.1-channel surround sound mixes. The DualDisc also formed part of the ( surrounded): box set.
Track listing
- "Overture" (Instrumental) – 3:38
- "Cvalda" (with Catherine DeneuveCatherine DeneuveCatherine Deneuve is a French actress. She gained recognition for her portrayal of aloof and mysterious beauties in films such as Repulsion and Belle de jour . Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that...
) – 4:48 - "I've Seen It AllI've Seen It All"I've Seen It All" is a song by Icelandic singer Björk, with lyrics by Sjón and Lars von Trier. It was released as the first promotional single from the Dancer in the Dark soundtrack, Selmasongs. The song features vocals from Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke...
" (with Thom YorkeThom YorkeThomas "Thom" Edward Yorke is an English musician who is the lead vocalist and principal songwriter for Radiohead. He mainly plays guitar and piano, but he has also played drums and bass guitar...
) – 5:29 - "Scatterheart" – 6:39
- "In The Musicals" – 4:41
- "107 Steps" (with Siobhan Fallon) – 2:36
- "New World" – 4:23
- Track 1 written by Björk and arranged, orchestrated, and conducted by Vincent Mendoza.
- Tracks 2 & 5 written by Björk, Mark Bell, Sjón, and Lars von Trier.
- Tracks 3, 4, 6 & 7 written by Björk, Sjón, and Lars von Trier.
In the film, the songs appear in the following order:
- "Overture"
- "Cvalda" (with Catherine DeneuveCatherine DeneuveCatherine Deneuve is a French actress. She gained recognition for her portrayal of aloof and mysterious beauties in films such as Repulsion and Belle de jour . Deneuve was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in Indochine; she also won César Awards for that...
) - "I've Seen It All (with Peter StormarePeter Stormareis a Swedish film, stage, voice and television actor as well as a theatrical director, playwright and musician.- Early life :...
) - "Smith & Wesson" (with David MorseDavid Morse (actor)David Bowditch Morse is an American stage, television, and film actor. He first came to national attention as Dr. Jack Morrison in the medical drama St. Elsewhere from 1982 to 1988...
, Cara SeymourCara SeymourCara Seymour is an English actress of stage and screen. She has appeared in many ensemble casts for acclaimed films such as American Psycho, Adaptation., Gangs of New York, Hotel Rwanda, and The Savages....
, Vladica Kostic and Edward RossEdward RossEdward Ross may refer to:*Edward A. Ross , American sociologist and a major figure of early criminology*Edward Denison Ross , English Orientalist and linguist*Edward Ross *Edward Ross...
) (a.k.a. "Scatterheart") - "In the Musicals (Pt. 1)"
- "In the Musicals (Pt. 2)"
- "My Favorite ThingsMy Favorite Things (song)"My Favorite Things" is a show tune from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.-The Sound of Music version:The song was first introduced by Mary Martin in the original Broadway production, and sung by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film.In the musical, the lyrics to the song are a...
" - "107 Steps" (with Siobhan Fallon)
- "The Last Song"
- "New World"
Charts
| Country | Peak position | Certification | Sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | 21 | ||
| France | 4 | Platinum | 242,000+ |
| Finland | 10 | ||
| Norway | 2 | ||
| Japan | 17 | Platinum | 91,530 |
| Poland | 19 | ||
| Sweden | 12 | ||
| Switzerland | 20 | ||
| U.K. | 34 | ||
| United States | 41 | 201,000 | |